ASTM_F_2326_-_04_2015.pdf

Designation:F232604(Reapproved 2015)Standard Test Method forCollection and Analysis of Visible Emissions from Candlesas They Burn1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2326;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONDuring the development of this test method with a specially manufactured“standardized”candle,variability of candle burn behavior was observed that introduced a wide statistical variation in theoverall test results from a single design.Variability in testing different types of candle products wouldintroduce even greater variability,that is,a pillar candle comprised of 60C(140F)melting point waxwould not,and would not be expected to,show the same burn behavior as a jar candle comprised of54.4C(130F)melting point wax.It is believed that a significant database of candle burnperformance,based on each type of candle and formulation format,would be required before onecould determine whether a statistical basis could be developed for pass/fail criteria for visible smokeemissions from candles.This method is intended to provide candle manufacturers a standardprocedure to use during the development of candle designs and formulations to compare relativesmoking/burn behavior.This method neither implies nor sets a standard level for visible smokeemissions for any candle type or formulation.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the collection and analysis ofvisible emissions from indoor use candles as they burn.1.2 The test is to be used to compare relative smoke/burnbehavior during development of candle designs and formula-tions.1.3 This test method may not be suitable for multiple wickcandles;tapers and candles intended to be burned whilefloating on water commonly known as“floaters.”1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1972 Guide for Terminology Relating to Candles andAssociated Accessory ItemsPS59 Provisional Specification for Fire Safety for Candles3.Terminology3.1 See Guide F1972 for definitions of terms not specified in3.2.3.2 Definitions:3.2.1 burn cyclelength of time the candle is burned duringone test day.For this test,a burn cycle is 4 h(see ProvisionalSpecification PS59).3.2.2 burn periodtotal time the candle is burned over theduration of the test.For this test,the burn period will be 16 h.3.2.3 fuel pool establishment periodtime,15 min orlonger,before each burn cycle that a candle must be burned toestablish a normal fuel pool and stable flame.3.2.4 molten fuel poolportion of the wax or fuel pool of acandle that is in the liquid form when the candle is burning.3.2.5 optical densitometerinstrument used for determin-ing the optical density in the transmittance or reflectance mode.3.2.6 top of the candlethe upper most part of the candle orcontainer.3.2.7 visible emissionsemissions that can be seen oncecollected on a substrate.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 onConsumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.45 onCandle Products.Current edition approved Jan.1,2015.Published February 2015.Originallyapproved in 2004.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as F2326 04(2009).DOI:10.1520/F2326-04R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The visible emissions from a candle are collected on atransparent media over the specified burn period.The emis-sions can then be assigned a relative value as a function ofopacity using a densitometer for a given testing sequence.5.Significance and Use5.1 The intent of this test method is to aid the candlemanufacturer to optimize candle formulations in the reductionof visible smoke emissions.5.2 This test method is intended to provide candle manu-facturers a standard procedure to use during development ofcandle designs and formulations to compare relative smoke/burn behavior.For the development of this method,a protocolwas established for trimming the wick on specially preparedtest candles to 6 to 7 mm(14in.)prior to each burn cycle.It isrecommended that the manufacturer determine a standardizedprotocol,that is,either not trimming the wick or trimming thewick to an appropriate length in order for direct comparison ofresults.5.3 A relative rank